Friday, December 5, 2014
Our recent vacation to Florida started off on a great note for me when we stopped to eat and gas up our cars in a small roadside strip mall in Tallahassee. Before resuming our journey I visited the men's room which was very clean and well maintained. There was no one but me and the attendant in the room when I got there. All the while he was busily attending to his duties, he was happily whistling a melody that sounded quite familiar to me. When I took the liberty to ask him what he was whistling he quickly gave me the title of the tune, one which I should have remembered since it was a classic romantic Mexican tune of long ago. I also commented that it was very refreshing to see and hear someone who seemingly enjoyed doing his work. It especially made my day as I considered that his type of job is not one which others might view as being meaningful or enjoyable.
Since he was quite obviously not an American citizen, many thoughts came into my mind about that encounter as we continued on our journey. Here are a few of them: Many may view the man in our story as a "criminal", one who has taken the job one of our own genuine citizens could have had. I understand and respect the argument but, at the same time, why do we see all those "now hiring" signs everywhere we turn? Who is gobbling up those jobs? How many people would want to be a janitor in a small strip mall restaurant's bathroom, and how many of them would happily whistle as they did this job?
Notwithstanding your position concerning undocumented workers or any other name you may have for them, here is the bottom line: Why can't we all be as happy when we work at our jobs or when we do anything else for that matter? We don't have to sing as we go to work like Disney's seven dwarfs but the Bible does offer us this advice: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Colossians 3:23) I think it all begins with having a grateful heart. Those who are happy with who they are and anything else that God has given them are like that. The truth is, it is God's will for us to be thankful. Paul said as such when he wrote, "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) When we think about all that God has done for us, how hard can it be for us to smile and be happy, maybe even whistle a happy tune as we travel along in life? Are you grateful and happy today?
Memory verse for the week: (Psalm 18:28) "You, O LORD, keep my lamp
burning; my God turns my darkness into light."
